When conducting a decommissioning survey, more information doesn’t always equal better outcomes. In the latest instalment of his regular Demolition Hub feature, our managing director Richard Vann argues that with the right approach, a ‘less is more’ philosophy can transform project safety, efficiency, and cost control for the better.
What is a decommissioning survey and why does it matter?
From power plants to chemical facilities, when a complex industrial site reaches the end of its operational life, you can’t go in blind. This is where a decommissioning survey comes in, telling you what’s safe, what could present risks, and which materials, residues, and structural quirks the site holds. Ultimately, the role of this process is to gather the data needed to make the decommissioning exercise safe, compliant, efficient, and cost-effective.
At this stage, the instinct might be to gather every piece of information possible. This paints a more comprehensive picture and improves project outcomes, right? In reality, it can have the opposite effect. Gathering too much, or the wrong kind of data, can overwhelm decision-making, obscure real safety issues, waste resources, and complicate an already complex scope of work.
Taking a ‘less is more’ approach – focusing surveys on complete, accurate, and genuinely relevant information – is therefore crucial. And it lets contractors and engineers approach each phase with confidence, knowing they’re armed with exactly what they need, when they need it. In other words, it’s about aiming for precision, rather than overload.
But what does this look like in practice?
Prioritising the HSE regime
The primary goal of a decommissioning survey is to maintain a stringent health, safety, and environment (HSE) regime. Gathering a flood of data on irrelevant risks won’t help here. Instead, you should identify the exact hazards that matter most to the plant in question, and target them in the survey. By zeroing in on specific HSE issues impacting the project, contractors can develop safe systems and best practices for subsequent work packages, ensuring that safety is woven into the project’s fabric from the start. From project managers to on-the-ground engineers, limiting guesswork translates into safer outcomes for everyone.
Exposing information gaps
One of the biggest advantages of a targeted survey is that it exposes information gaps that could lead to liabilities if overlooked. But don’t rely solely on data. To uncover critical issues that may be otherwise overlooked, the knowledge of operators who have run and maintained the plant for decades becomes invaluable. These individuals possess site-specific insights that can help identify potential hazards or residues that may not be documented elsewhere. So, by leveraging their expertise during the survey process, we can address knowledge gaps before they become liabilities, ensuring no significant risks are left unexamined.
Harnessing fit-for-purpose data
Every decommissioning project is different, and technical surveys should reflect that. A one-size-fits-all approach is not only inefficient, it can also lead to misunderstandings and severely overlooked risks. Consider a chemical facility where specific hazardous materials have been used over the years, for example; a blanket survey may fail to address unique handling and disposal requirements, leading to potentially dangerous situations down the line. When survey data aligns with the unique needs of a project, you get smarter, safer, and more efficient outcomes from start to finish. At this stage, it’s about being as dynamic and adaptable as the decommissioning projects themselves, mitigating unnecessary data distractions in the process.
Keeping budgets and tenders achievable
Managing budgets and tender submissions can feel like a balancing act. The challenge lies in accurately predicting costs amid the uncertainties that come with dismantling complex industrial sites. When surveys are overloaded with irrelevant data, it can lead to inflated budgets and unrealistic tender prices, resulting in confusion and potential project overruns. With more precise, targeted data from the outset, we can gain clearer insights into the real costs involved, helping project managers craft more accurate budgets and establish deliverable tender prices, reducing financial surprises further along in the project.
Precisely roadmapping risks
Perhaps the most important part of a decommissioning survey is thoroughly identifying and recording every risk and residue. More than tick-box documentation, this step is about translating hazards into straightforward language that can be planned around, without ambiguity. A comprehensive, precise risk assessment avoids assumptions and establishes a clear roadmap for every project stage, because nothing should be left to chance – especially where human lives are concerned.
The essence of strategic simplicity
Ultimately, clarity and relevance aren’t just preferences during the survey process – they are essential to ensuring safety, boosting compliance, streamlining decision-making, and keeping budgets in check. In a field fraught with complexity, this ‘less is more’ approach can often be the key to safeguarding success at every stage. Crucially, this doesn’t mean doing the bare minimum – far from it. It requires deeper consideration and strategic thinking to determine which information truly matters. But once pinned down, this pays dividends in the long run.
Keen to get your next project out of first gear safely, efficiently, and with costs in firm focus? Ask our experts about our specialist decommissioning and demolition expertise, trusted by leading names including BASF, INEOS, and ENGIE, to name just a few.
